Union Minister Of State For Power R K Singh

Singh warns of debt trap for using borrowed money to give free electricity

Power Minister RK Singh has warned of a debt trap for states like Punjab using borrowed money to provide free electricity, saying such populist schemes are fine only if a state has finances. Electricity, like any other commodity, involves the cost of generating it, and if a state is to provide it for free to a section of consumers, it also needs to have finances to pay the generating utility. If the generating utility isn't paid, electricity will not be produced in the first place. In an interview with PTI, Singh said he has been telling states that electricity is not free. "If any state wants to give free power to any category of people, they can go ahead and do so, but you have to pay for it". However, states with already high debt are resorting to such populist measures, forcing them to borrow more to pay generating utilities, resulting in a debt trap. "You should not be bringing your state to a situation where it falls into a debt trap. Many of the states are close to debt trap

India to achieve 500 GW renewables target before 2030 deadline: RK Singh

Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh on Monday said India will achieve its 500 GW renewable energy target before the 2030 deadline. Addressing FICCI's India Energy Transition Summit 2023, Singh also said had India not lost two years due to COVID-19, the nation would have achieved 50 per cent of its power generation capacity from RE non-fossil fuels, by now. India has 424 GW of power generation capacity which includes around 180 GW from non-fossil fuels and another 88 GW is in the works, the minister said. The country has a target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. "We will achieve 500 GW of renewable energy (RE) well before 2030," he said. Singh also said India's energy transition programme is at the top in the world. The RE capacity addition is the fastest in the world. New and Renewable Energy Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla said India added 15 GW of renewable energy in last fiscal year (2022-23) which would be increased to 25 GW in 2023-24

R K Singh launches portal to ensure availability of power amid peak season

Union Power Minister R K Singh has launched a portal to ensure greater availability of power during the peak demand season at a price higher than the ceiling of Rs 12 per unit by certain category of sellers. The central government has launched a High Price Day Ahead Market (HP-DAM) and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP), a power ministry statement said. Earlier in February, power regulator CERC had approved the HP-DAM segment where power can be sold at a price as high as Rs 50 per unit. HP-DAM will aid stranded gas and imported coal-based power plants to generate and sell expensive power to meet the high peak demand in summers which is expected to touch 239 GW this season. Besides, the new segment will also ensure availability of electricity through an expensive battery energy storage system. The Union Minister said that only those generating capacities which have a cost of producing power of more than Rs 12 per unit would be allowed to operate in HP-DAM. If the cost of production is l

Take proactive actions, ensure no load shedding during summer: R K Singh

The government has asked power companies to ensure that there is no load shedding during the summer season and urged all stakeholders to take proactive actions to meet the rising electricity demand. Union Power Minister R K Singh chaired a review meeting on March 7, with senior officials from Power, Coal and Railways ministries on various aspects in a bid to meet high electricity demand in the ensuing summer months. During the meeting, Singh asked power companies to ensure that there is no load-shedding during the summer months, a power ministry statement said. He asked all stakeholders to closely monitor the situation and take proactive actions to meet the electricity demand during the coming months. He also asked the Central Electricity Authority to ensure that a fair and transparent mechanism is devised for allocation of coal to various States/UTs. As per estimates of the Central Electricity Authority, the peak electricity demand is expected to be 229 GW during April this year.

MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar to attend India Global Forum event on Mar 7-8

Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar will be attending the India Global Forum (IGF) event at Bengaluru on March 7-8, an official statement said on Sunday.

India to replace diesel by renewable energy in agriculture by 2024: Govt

Union Power Minister R K Singh on Friday said that India will achieve zero-diesel use in agriculture and replace the fossil fuel with renewable energy by 2024. The minister held a virtual meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Power and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of Power or Energy Departments of states & UTs to discuss their role in achieving India's energy transition goals and meeting climate commitments. The minister asserted that India will replace diesel with renewables to achieve target of zero-diesel use in the agricultural sector by 2024, a power ministry release stated. Addressing the meeting, Singh stressed the need for collaborative efforts between the Central and State Governments towards the large-scale deployment of energy efficiency measures in potential sectors of the economy. He emphasised the need to have a state-specific agency dedicated for energy efficiency and conservation. He urged ...

India will not import power equipment from China: R K Singh amid standoff

He further said state discoms should not give orders for supply of equipment to Chinese firms

NHPC conducts e-reverse auction for 2000 MW solar project amid lockdown

The bidding was undertaken on April 16 under the e-reverse auction method where the bidder quoting the lowest tariff is awarded the project.

Power discoms suffered losses worth Rs 27000 crore in FY19: Minister

The Centre aims to reduce electricity transmission and distribution losses in the country to 15 per cent in next two years, Singh said

Govt sets up over 56 MW power capacity from waste in last 3 yrs: R K Singh

So far 199 waste-to-energy projects for generation of biogas/bio CNG/ power based on urban, industrial, agriculture waste and municipal solid waste have been successfully established

In 16 states, T&D losses have gone up from 20% to 56%: R K Singh

Interview with R K Singh, MoS (independent charge), Power